Samsung is working on AI phones, which could be "radically different" from current phones

2024-07-22

Samsung is focusing on AI as the future of mobile devices – we’ve already seen the software with the recent Galaxy AI features, but the hardware “may turn out to be radically different from Samsung’s existing phones,” according to TM Roh, the President of Samsung’s Mobile Experience unit (MX).

Roh spoke to the Australian Financial Review and said that the “lion’s share” of Samsung MX’s research and development is focused on so-called AI phones.

What might those look like? TM Roh didn’t go into details, but the “radically different” comment suggests that the ubiquitous rectangle may be on its way out. Roh did mention that AI phones would be more “mobile”, which doesn’t necessarily mean smaller – they could have bigger screens and more sensors too.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy Z Fold6 benefit from their S Pen support as AI can turn a rough sketch into a detailed image. However, AI is used not just for image manipulation and creation, but also for audio, text, video, 3D and just about anything that you can think of.

Samsung is incorporating its headphones into the AI toolset (with language translation), so accessories might be part of the strategy. Also, foldable phones are uniquely suited to use their dual displays for things like interpreter mode.

There are some AI devices on the market currently, but none that are successful, so maybe they are not a good indication of what an “AI phone” should be like. This also means that Samsung is venturing into unexplored territory, so it’s no wonder that it requires a massive R&D push.

Source (paywalled)